With the festive season here and many tempted to drink more alcohol than they normally would, it's important to know what's inside the limit.
Many people will be heading out to work Christmas parties, boozy dinners with friends, or meeting for a quiet one down the pub. You might think that as long as you don't get behind the wheel while drunk that's enough, but there are some more obscure rules that could catch you out.
Car and van leasing company Vanarama is now warning Brits that simply standing next to their car whilst under the influence of alcohol could land you with a £2,500 fine and three months imprisonment.
That is because you can get fined if you're found to be "in charge" of a car while drunk. Under English law, this means you could be charged without even getting behind the wheel of a car.
The CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) explains: "A person remains in charge of their vehicle until they have transferred control to another, for example by handing over the key or have gone some distance from the car, in such circumstances that they had no intention of re-asserting control of the vehicle."
According to Vanarama, indications that could lead to you being charged with drunk driving are:
- Standing next to your vehicle
- Being inside your vehicle but not in the driving seat
- Having the keys in the ignition
- Having a reason to drive, such as needing to be at work or having a booked appointment, which provides a clear motivation for you to get behind the wheel despite being over the alcohol limit
Vanarama warns that if you have consumed more than the legal alcohol limit, you shouldn't go near your car because you could be charged with drink driving.
However, if you do drive, or attempt to drive under the influence of alcohol, you're looking at six months in prison, unlimited fines, and a driving ban for at least a year.
According to the website, one in four Brits unknowingly break this rule by drinking Champagne over Christmas.
So how long do you need to wait after drinking before you can safely drive? That depends entirely on your tipple of choice.
But to make it simple, Vanarama has put together a list of the most common beverages, and how long you need to wait:
- A large glass of wine – 5 hours
- Sex on the beach cocktail – 4 hours
- Double vodka – 4 hours
- Pint of cider – 4 hours
- Long island iced tea – 3.5 hours
- Pint of lager – 3.5 hours
- Pina colada – 3 hours
- A standard glass of champagne – 2.5 hours
- Single gin – 2.5 hours
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